The Colorado Asthma Toolkit Program: a practice coaching intervention from the High Plains Research Network

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Research
• Public Health Interventions
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Asthma diagnosis and treatment are frequently suboptimal in primary care settings.
• The Colorado Asthma Toolkit Program aimed to enhance asthma care delivery.
• The program focused on evidence-based practices and patient self-management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a program to improve asthma diagnosis and management in primary care.
• To provide training and support for healthcare clinicians and patients.
• To increase patient activation for effective asthma self-management.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative initiative involving academic institutions and a primary care research network.
• Focus groups with rural patients and clinicians informed intervention development.
• Development of clinician and patient toolkits with coaching and spirometry training.

Main Results:

• Asthma care training was delivered to 57 of 58 primary care offices.
• Practices increased inhaled corticosteroid use (median 25% to 50%).
• Asthma action plan use increased (median 0% to 20%), and spirometry use rose (median 0% to 30%).

Conclusions:

• The Colorado Asthma Toolkit Program effectively disseminated improved asthma care strategies to rural practices.
• Flexible, in-office coaching and spirometry provision were key to practice acceptance.
• Observed improvements in asthma management practices are expected to decrease hospitalizations and emergency department visits.